METHOD FOR PROVIDING AND OBTAINING CONTENT

摘要

In a data providing server 1101, whether or not specified compressed content data D51 generated by means of a specified compression coding method corresponding to terminal identification information has been stored in a content database 1113 is detected, according to content specifying data D53 transmitted from a portable dedicated terminal 1104. If the specified compressed content data D51 has been stored, the data providing server 1101 reads and transmits this to the portable dedicated terminal 1104. And if the specified compressed content data D51 has not been stored, the data providing server 1101 generates the specified compressed content data D51 by means of the specified compression coding method, and transmits this to the portable dedicated terminal 1104. Thereby, the specified compressed content data D51 generated by means of a specified decoding method can be properly provided to the portable dedicated terminal 1104, and the user can easily view a content based on the content data.

主权项

1. An apparatus for providing content to a user, said apparatus comprising:
an enclosure; a processor subsystem entirely encompassed by said enclosure; the processor subsystem comprising a plurality of processing units, including at least a first processing unit and a second processing unit; a screen operatively coupled to said processor subsystem; a user input mechanism operatively coupled to said processor subsystem; an audio subsystem, operatively coupled to said processor subsystem, comprising:
a speaker, anda headphone jack; memory, entirely internal to said enclosure, operatively coupled to the processor subsystem; wherein the memory includes at least:
a Flash semiconductor memory; andan SDRAM semiconductor memory; a radio communication system, entirely internal to said enclosure; a camera, coupled to said processor subsystem; a microphone coupled to said processor subsystem; a connector, penetrating a surface of said enclosure, coupled to said processor subsystem; a rechargeable battery internal to said enclosure coupled to said processor subsystem; wherein the first processing unit is configured at least to execute software stored in the apparatus; wherein the second processing unit is configured at least to selectively perform power management tasks; wherein the connector is configured to:
connect the apparatus, directly or indirectly, to an external device, andfacilitate transfer of information to enable the external device to play audio-visual content stored on the apparatus; wherein said memory stores a plurality of software programs available to be executed by at least one of said plurality of processing units; wherein the user input mechanism comprises a plurality of buttons; wherein each button, of said plurality of buttons, is responsive to a sufficient external force being applied to said button to provide a momentary indication of said external force; wherein said apparatus includes logic for sending content requests over any one of a plurality of different networks; wherein said plurality of different networks includes a particular network over which the apparatus communicates, via the radio communication system, using radio signals; wherein said radio communication system is configured to receive content data over the particular network, for storage of the content data in, and playback of the content data by, the apparatus; wherein the apparatus has logic for communicating using one of a set of supported standard protocols; wherein said rechargeable battery is configured to power said apparatus when said apparatus is not connected to an external power source; wherein said processor subsystem is configured to:
cause a content selection image to be displayed on said screen,receive, from said user input mechanism, an indication that is indicative of selected content represented in said content selection image, andgenerate a selected content request in response to said indication; wherein said apparatus is configured to:
send said selected content request over the Internet by transmitting said selected content request out of said apparatus via one of said plurality of different networks, andreceive a first audio-visual content, in digital format, over one of said plurality of different networks, from the Internet, in response to said selected content request; wherein said selected content request is transmitted and said first audio-visual content is received using protocols selected from the set of supported standard protocols; wherein said first audio-visual content comprises a video component and an audio component; wherein said audio component comprises a plurality of channels; wherein said processor subsystem is configured to decode the first audio-visual content to produce a decoded video component, and to cause said decoded video component to be displayed on said screen while the audio subsystem plays said audio component of said first audio-visual content; wherein the camera is configured to capture a video component of a second audio-visual content; wherein the microphone is configured to capture an audio component of said second audio-visual content; wherein said user input mechanism is configured to facilitate an input of text; wherein said apparatus is configured to enable text, entered using the user input mechanism, to be associated with said second audio-visual content; wherein the camera is configured to capture a still image; wherein said apparatus is configured to provide access by said processor subsystem to said still image; and wherein said apparatus is configured to perform image analysis on said still image.